Scottish pharmacy groups want Society to take collegiate structure
Seven pharmacy groups in Scotland have come together to present a united view on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s role post devolution. The groups told the Society at a meeting in Edinburgh on 26 October that they would like it to take a collegiate structure.
The groups met the Society’s devolution review group as part of
a consultation on how the Society should adapt to meet the changes resulting
from devolution
in Scotland and Wales (PJ, 9 October, p541).
Their proposed collegiate structure would involve an over-arching UK-wide
council under which an English college, a Scottish college and a Welsh
college would operate. Devolved matters could be handled by the colleges
and UK-wide issues by the council.
Speaking at the meeting, James Semple, chairman of the Scottish Pharmaceutical
Federation (one of the seven groups), said that one of the Society’s
roles is to represent pharmacy through responding to and influencing
policy decisions. “Before devolution, this task was relatively
simple because there was only primary legislature — Westminster,” he
said. This is no longer the case. “The only solution is for Scottish
matters to be devolved to a Scottish council resident in Scotland.”
Frank Owens, chairman of the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council
(another of the seven groups), said that the review group should consider
that, since devolution, the way in which pharmacy is developing is different
in each home country. “Different contracts can only be achieved
by delegating to those who understand best the policy agenda driving
the change. That must mean empowering the Society in Scotland,” he
said.
Agenda for 2004, p645 |
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